Rabu, November 16, 2011

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You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year of 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Dwight D. Eisenhower
June 6, 1944

The 1994 Collectible of the Year commemorates the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Because of wartime shortages during WWII, Zippo was forced to fabricate lighter cases out of steel instead of the traditional brass. To keep them from rusting the cases were painted black, and the finish was baked on giving the lighter a "black crackle" look.

The D-Day commemorative features a special insignia adapted from the official D-Day patch worn by allied forces, and the case duplicates the "black crackle" lighters that were made during WWII. Each lighter is elegantly displayed on a velour platform, and packaged in an attractive round metal tin. On the inside lid of the tin is a reprint of the original Eisenhower letter that was issued to troops on June 6, 1944.